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What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

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Saturday, January 30, 2016

My Favorite Thrift Store

I have fourteen thrift stores that I go to on a pretty regular basis. Some more than others because they are closer to me. My absolute favorite thrift store, hands down is what I call the Super Cheap Thrift. That's not it's actual name, but that's what I have always called it. I have been shopping there for about 20 years - it used to be in a small little building up then it moved to a nice big store. Well, big for it - not Goodwill huge. An interesting fact about this area is that we have a locally owned phone company that only services the three local small towns around me. This is a family owned telephone company that has been in business over 100 years. The support their local community and have donated the building and pay the utilities for this thrift store. So, since it is all volunteer based from people at a local church and all the costs are paid - they can still sell clothing for 25¢-$2.00, housewares for 50¢, etc.

Half of the building is the thrift, and the other half is a place where you can ask for assistance with utility bills, get groceries and get vouchers for shopping at the thrift store. When you qualify for a voucher, they bring it right over and file it so the person can shop right then. Also, they are given a credit on the voucher for say, $20.00 and they can buy whatever they need. Clothes, housewares, Christmas for their kids - whatever that person feels they need at the moment. I love that about this store. I was at the Salvation Army many times when people came in with vouchers and they treated the people horribly. Said they couldn't use their vouchers because it was too late in the day, told a lady she could not use a voucher to buy a matching skirt and blazer. Only single items. She was in tears because she had a job interview and wanted to look her very best. But, no. She couldn't buy the matching suit. She was trying to get out of the hole she was in by getting a good job. Why couldn't they help her? Another time a lady had three pairs of underpants for her daughter and they said that she could only have two. She started crying, "How can I do laundry and keep two pairs clean for her for school?" People should be able to decide what they need for the situation they are in at that moment.

When I go to the SCT, I buy a lot of stuff. But, I never buy anything that I think someone could really use - I don't buy clothes, new kitchen items, curtains, blankets, kids clothes or anything that I feel a family would really need. I buy vintage this and that and things I can spiff up. No one says I can't buy stuff, the store is usually packed with the usual flea market crowd - that is just my self imposed rule. I do break it sometimes - I bought an old letter jacket last summer. But, it was summer and most people want a nice newer coat to actually wear. A lady that works there told me last week that she she loved to see what I bought - it's things no one else would buy - but it's all just so cool! That made me feel good. I'm not taking away from anyone that really needs it plus I am contributing money to help with their other services.

Today as I was starting to pay for my purchases (five grocery bags full of fabric scraps, a book, some bronze baby shoes and a framed picture) the man ahead of me was asking for his voucher. Apparently it had been used already and he didn't have any money on him. He went outside to dig in his car and he came in with only four pennies. He was trying to buy a yellow polo shirt for 75¢ to wear to work. I immediately said to put his shirt on my tab. But the ladies behind the counter told him to take the shirt. People had been paying extra all day and they had a good overflow of change to pay for it. They were all so nice and genuine about hing needing and and taking it. I don't know of many thrift stores where people willingly say "Keep the change" (I always do) or pay more than things are priced. They know it's for a good cause and it's run by good thoughtful people.

I really hadn't realized how special this thrift was to me until today when everyone was so willing to help that man get his yellow shirt. Don't get me wrong - I have scored some good junk at this thrift and made some decent money on a few things. But, I don't feel bad about it since the things I bought weren't really necessities. And, twice, I bought things that I thought were just cool and they turned out to be money makers. Surprise for me!

One other reason this thrift is special to me is several years ago, I stopped a week after Christmas to shop. I found a gorgeous Wilendur rose tablecloth with matching napkins. It was priced $10.00, which is crazy high for this thrift. But, I loved it and decided to splurge on it for my collection. When I stepped up to pay, my total was $22.50. But, then a man behind me said, "I'll pay for that." And he did. Turns out, he paid for every person that went through the line that day until he hit $500.00. He really brightened my day when he did that and I always think of him when I see that beautiful tablecloth.

So this is sort of a long winded post without photos, but I had it on my mind and thought I would type it out. I really would like to know if you have a favorite thrift for reasons other than what good junk you find there. Sometimes the experience is as important as the junk.

24 comments:

Just recently I've come to have some new favorite thrifts. The most recent just became a weigh and pay. I had visited this thrift only once before it became a weigh and pay and didn't really care for it. Prices were so so but I just didn't find much of anything and it was way across town. Well since they have become a weigh and pay I've fallen in love with it. They don't dump everything together in big piles like most weigh and pays I've read about. No, they sort it and put the items on shelves. The clothing goes in bins but is sorted by general type not size. I've found some great buys there, things that didn't sell at their other locations. It makes me feel good that that item got one more chance to sell and I found it. The people that work there are very friendly too. They always greet you when you come in and say goodbye when you leave. The whole experience just gives you a good feeling over and above the excitement of finding a treasure.

Your SCT sounds like The Caring Place I shop at. They have the retail side with all the normal stuff, clothing, furniture, household, linens, shoes, etc. Then they have "stores within the store", like the boutique for higher end clothes and Refinds where they sell anything they consider an antique. I hardly shop either "store in a store" b/c the prices are crazy. There are shoppers that will not set foot inside the regular part, but have no qualms about shopping the boutique or Refinds. It's all used junk and stuff, I guess they feel different about it paying a higher price. There is also the side that is the food pantry, bill and voucher assistance. What frustrates me is the stuff I go for are the things they hoard all year and have one big sale, like the upcoming "linen" sale, then they jack up the prices 10 times what it would be on the regular floor. My spending has been minimal there over the past year.

I have about 16 thrifts that I hit with varying degree of frequency. They all have their own personality and I like each one for various reasons. None have the SCT goodness vibe. However, several are GWs. They vary greatly in vintage, price and community. Several have very active job centers and I speak to lots of GW workers who genuinely feel GW gave them a chance. Other GWs just seem like corporate price gouging machines. I personally believe the nasty big Corp machine is Savers. Always screaming they donate a "portion of their proceeds to epilepsy research" turns out it's a fraction of a fraction of ONE percent.

Our Goodwill does a lot of good too. In fact, I am about to ship the Breadman down there to the career center to learn how to use the computer. 'Cause Mam ain't got time to teach HIM that! Our Goodwills are Arkansas Goodwills and separate from the other Goodwills.

So enjoyed this post!! Love hearing how people can be so generous to one another. I have a SCT that I go to where a lot of people think is in a rough part of town-doesn't bother me one bit!! Around Christmas time this year I noticed a man filling up a cart full of shoes~when he got to the register-I asked him if he was donating the shoes & could I buy a pair to donate to his cause?? And he said NO. What? NO. OOOKKKAAYYYThe next week (always shop on Wednesdays)I was shopping and in the aisle with me were 4 other women and we were in the "zone" and this ordinary man came up to each of us and handed each one a new $50.00 bill!!!! My story was he came up to me and asked if I was having a Merry Christmas and I thought he was bumming for money so I was riffling through my purse for a dollar and I smiled at him and said "pretty good so far-how about you?" and he then handed me a new $50!!! and moved on down the aisle to the next woman. We were all stunned!!!!! One lady burst into tears-another one kept turning over the bill-and 2 of us were shocked that this had happened. This had never happened to any of us before! Never saw him again or knew why he was giving out $50.00 bills. Tried researching (news internet) to see who this good samaritain was but never did find out. Even asked one of the ladies the next week if she knew who he was but she didn't know either. WOW! I gave my $50 to my daughter who wanted to join COSCO but didn't have the $55 membership fee. I went with her when she joined and they took my picture too and I got a membership right along with her!!! That is my story.joy-columbus ohio

I have two thrift shops I visit more often then others. They are both charity based, one for battered women and children and the other a Christian based outreach. Both have fair prices, with the first one being cheaper as things are always marked but the prices are usually very cheap. I donate to them and buy from them both. I have paid it forward a few times at both thrifts. It is just a way to help others at times. I enjoyed your post very much!

Love this post! I almost got a little teary-eyed reading it! We have something similar to your SCT, but it is about 45min away from me. I visit it about every few months. However, they don't have super cheap prices, but they do usually have a few good things. And I'm like you - I only ever buy what someone definitely wouldn't need. :)

I mostly visit the thrift stores during the winter months when the rummage sales don't happen. The thrift stores here St. Vinnies, Savers, Goodwill prices are usually not in my budget. However, I can sometimes find a gem in the rough. I love that you have a big hearted community.

Wonderfully heartwarming story. So nice to read there are still kind people in this world. Sadly there aren't many thrift stores around here. I have moderate luck at Savers and I try and go on Tuesday when they give 30% off to the old folks! Thanks for sharing your great story.

This is a great story! My favorite thrift is run to benefit adults with spinal injuries and the shop is on the grounds of the home where the people are cared for, so you get to interact with the residents too. Everyone is so friendly and always ask about my kids and are willing to point out things they think I'll like, but missed seeing on the shelf. The prices are excellent too! I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, one of Africa's biggest cities, so it's a big deal to get the community feeling when you go into a shop. On the other hand and around the corner from my favorite shop is a shop contributing against animal anti cruelty. I call them "The rude animals" because the shop has such a negative feeling. So now my mom and everyone I thrift with just calls it that too. Haha

The first thrift you mentioned sounds amazing - being able to interact with the people that it benefits. That is great! As for the second one - that is awful that they give off a negative vibe! Especially since it sounds like they are doing an important job! Thanks for visiting from all the way in Johannesburg! Wow! :)

Thanks for sharing that story Shara, it really warmed my heart. Most people are decent and nice but we don't hear about them often enough, (BTW you are one of the sweetest people I know). How anyone could turn away a mother buying underwear, or a women trying to find a suit to get a job really boggles the mind. People ought to try being generous (especially right now during Lent) it really does bring joy to your heart.

I love my comments. I'd love to respond to everyone, but if you don't have an email address tied to your ID, please sign your name so I will know who you are! It makes it nice to know who is saying what. Now, leave a comment! Please? ;o)

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About Me

I am the curator or a small house crammed to the rafters with vintage goodness. I love finding old stuff, making it new again and reselling it in my flea market booth. Mostly, I like to keep it! :) BUT! More than all that - I love where I live in NW Arkansas. Beautiful country with lots of great things to see and do. Sometime it's about the junk. Sometimes it's about the journey.

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Hazel

Hazel is a 1950''s Buster Brown Mannequin. I purchased her at the Estate of a dear lady I knew. She worked at Woolsworth for many years and rescued the mannequin from the store when she was about to be thrown out. Hazel has become a member of our family! (I never had a girl, you know!)